Gas leak near Benicia City Hall capped

October 3, 2011 5:18:51 PM PDT

BENICIA, Calif. --

PG&E crews have capped a ruptured gas line on East K Street at East Second Street in Benicia and residents and City Hall workers who were evacuated Monday afternoon are returning to the affected area, Benicia Fire Marshal Ray Iverson said.

The leak in the 4-inch plastic gas line was capped at 2:40 p.m. and an all clear was issued at 3 p.m., Iverson said.

PG&E spokeswoman Katie Romans said the line was capped at 2:30 p.m.

PG&E expects to complete repairs to the gas line by midnight, Iverson said. Romans said they might be completed sooner.

The five-square-block area around Benicia City Hall was evacuated around 12:30 p.m. when workers from a private company struck the gas line while digging a trench, Iverson said.

The evacuation included City Hall, the Benicia Public Library and the Benicia Senior Center on East L Street.

There are 24 apartment units and 10 homes in the evacuation area that includes East L Street between East Second Street and East Third Street, and East K Street between East First Street and East Third Street, Iverson said.

Evacuees were sent to the Benicia Community Center at 320 East L St., Iverson said.